JOHN IN THE MEDIA
Updated 10/18/24
Suffolk County women and independent voters need to see, particularly on broadcast, digital and OTT/streaming, that Nick LaLota cheered overturning Roe v. Wade and supports a national abortion ban that would make abortion illegal in New York, and called for a repeal of New York’s own abortion law. LaLota even voted for a bill to establish new criminal penalties including jail time for doctors who perform lifesaving abortion care.
In contrast, John Avlon will stop a national abortion ban.
Campaign Trail: I’ve Seen a Lot as a Political Journalist. I Didn’t Expect My Former Boss to Run for Office. - Slate 11/1/24
“Ideally, journalism and public service are two sides of the same coin, right? It’s because you care about civic debates, you care about your country or community,” Avlon said. “You want to talk about ideas, advance ideas. And obviously there’s a natural tension between the two [jobs], but I also think, ideally, they’re complementary. And so for me, there’s total continuity of purpose. It’s not stepping into a totally different arena. It’s just a different facet of the same fight.”
The former Giuliani aide also said he was shocked by the cynicism of political campaigns in the 21st century. After all, journalists may be jaded—but at least in Avlon’s estimation, they have nothing on political consultants.
“I’d say one difference between being a journalist running for office is that I actually care about facts. And I’m amazed how many consultants have gotten used to ‘Of course that’s a lie. It doesn’t matter.’ ”
As an example, he said that his opponent had falsely claimed that Avlon supported government benefits for undocumented immigrants. He went online to find out what the citation for this was. As the author of four books and countless columns, Avlon has argued for plenty of ideas over the years that he might regret, but he didn’t think this was one of them.
“I was curious, so I actually clicked through on the link, and it’s an article from Minnesota that I’m neither cited in, quoted in, nor wrote,” he said. It left him perplexed and saddened—an almost surprising display of naivete from someone who had spent so much time in newsrooms. Political consultants and campaigns “take advantage of the fact that, you know, newsrooms are strapped and they’re not doing the fact-checking,” he said.
Editorial: Zipped Lips LaLota - The East Hampton Star 10/30/24
A glaring example of Mr. LaLota's dilemma came after The New York Times reported that Donald Trump's former chief of staff Gen. John Kelly recalled Trump praising Adolf Hitler. Asked directly for a response, Mr. LaLota deflected by trying to cast doubt on The Times.
Then, after a Trump surrogate joked reprehensibly about Puerto Rico specifically and Latinos in general, the congressman kept his lips zipped. Latinos are the second largest part of the population in the First District, and his silence could hurt his chances.
John Avlon, formerly of The Daily Beast and CNN, is within arm's length of a win, even though most polls still rate the district as likely Republican. As a Democratic moderate, he just might pull off a win — if the party has a strong turnout. It seems a toss-up, considering that Mr. Trump won in the district by only four points.
Electing Mr. Avlon is crucial if national Democrats are going to be able to take control of the House of Representative.
Endorsement: TBR News Media 2024 endorsement: John Avlon for Congress - Village Times Herald 10/30/24
TBR News Media is endorsing John Avlon (D-Sag Harbor) to represent us in the 1st Congressional District. Mr. Lalota left us no choice since, despite multiple invitations, he did not come in for an interview.
We feel Mr. Avlon has the passion and background to excel in the position.
As a lover of history, he deeply believes in the promises of the American Dream. He urges strong education policy among students to have our next generation understand the importance of becoming civically responsible and politically informed.
One notable moment of our interview with Avlon at the TBR office was that while he feels MAGA Republicans lean dangerously right, he acknowledges left-leaning moments in our country’s history have not been productive. He believes that the only way to make progress is when both sides meet to reach a compromise so that consensus is reached, and that the people are presented with policies that will make their lives better — not more complicated. As stated on Avlon’s website, “We need to build a broad patriotic coalition to defeat Donald Trump, defend our democracy and restore the middle class with commonsense solutions.”
Endorsement: Shelter Island Reporter Endorsements for Election 2024 - 27 East 10/30/24
But in 2024, knowing what we know, LaLota’s dogged support for Trump is simply disqualifying.
John Avlon is not just a default choice: The Democratic nominee is articulate, thoughtful, engaging, open to a variety of viewpoints and appears to be far from a zealous partisan — certainly not the cartoon liberal his opponent suggests. Avlon’s career at CNN focused on the idea of “common sense,” and his campaign has done likewise.
A journalist and historian, Avlon is exactly the kind of clear-headed thinker the 1st District should send to Washington, D.C., as its representative, a throwback to the days when Southampton’s Tim Bishop was always the smartest man in the room and willing to engage all sides in a conversation about the nation and its future. Because that future has rarely been so precarious.
Endorsement: Shelter Island Reporter Endorsements for Election 2024 - Shelter Island Reporter 10/24/24
John Avlon for Congress
East End voters are fortunate to have two strong and qualified candidates vying to represent them in the U.S. Congress for the next two years. Democrat John Avlon, a journalist, author and presidential historian, making his first run for public office, is challenging Republican incumbent Rep. Nick LaLota.
Mr. LaLota has established his bona fides when it comes to protecting the natural environment of the East End. He introduced a bill in 2023 to designate Plum Island as a National Monument to protect the federally-owned property from future commercial development.
He has been a vocal advocate for protecting the Long Island Sound, securing some $40 million in federal funds to ensure the health of the vital waterway. He has also garnered $3 million in funding for the restoration of the Mitchell Park bulkhead in Greenport Harbor.
John Avlon has run a smart, informative and open campaign, emphasizing a non-partisan, “common-sense” approach that he pledges to bring to Washington. He has stressed the need to “rebuild the middle” in terms of politics and the economy, to increase opportunity and break the cycle of hyper-partisanship that has all but crippled the legislative branch over the past several years.
He recognizes and supports the need for comprehensive immigration reform and streamlining the process for adjudicating asylum seekers.
Mr. Avlon supports preserving open space, while recognizing the need to find viable solutions to the region’s affordability crisis, and would seek to incentivize, through tax breaks, homeowners and small businesses to take steps to enhance coastal resiliency and combat climate change.
Mr. Avlon has left little doubt he would be a level-headed and effective public servant, and has the Reporter’s endorsement for election to Congress.
Campaign Trail: LaLota and Avlon Clash at Two Debates - The East Hampton Star 10/24/24
About halfway through a debate hosted by Newsday and broadcast Sunday, John Avlon, the Democratic challenger for the congressional seat held by Nick LaLota, shifted his tone. He had just been asked by Joye Brown, the moderator, about the war in Gaza.
“I lived through 9/11 up close, and it’s fundamental to the way I view the world,” Mr. Avlon said. “So, when I saw the horrors of Oct. 7, my impulse is always to stand with victims of terrorism and never blame the victims of terrorism. We need broad bipartisan support for Israel.” He said there was no moral equivalence between Israel, a democracy, and Hamas, a terrorist organization, and called on the United States to lead diplomatic efforts to get to a two-state solution. It was the sort of answer you might expect from a self-proclaimed centrist.
It might have been a moment of agreement between the two men. Instead, Representative LaLota, who declined to look at Mr. Avlon during the debate, brushed off the answer…
A Newsday/Siena College poll released early Tuesday morning showed a dead heat, with the men separated by only 3 points, well within the poll’s 4.5-percent margin of error. Polls from late September, one funded by Representative LaLota’s campaign and the other by a Republican Super PAC, had the incumbent up by 8 and 10 points, respectively. In other words, the race is close and getting closer, with Mr. Avlon showing late momentum in a district twice won by Donald Trump.
“My opponent pretends to be moderate but also brags he was the first purple district representative to endorse Donald Trump,” Mr. Avlon said. “This election is about common ground over chaos, and the chaos that Donald Trump represents and the empowering of extremism that Nick LaLota represents is not representative of Suffolk County values. We need to practice the politics of addition and not division. Nick LaLota is the problem, not the solution, because he’s a follower, not a leader.”
Campaign Trail: ‘Desperate Deflection’: John Avlon Goes After GOP Rep During Debate For Glossing Over Reported Trump Praise For - Mediaite 10/24/24
Former CNN analyst and journalist-turned Democratic congressional candidate John Avlon took his Republican opponent to task during their debate on Wednesday when he brought up former President Donald Trump’s reported praise of Adolf Hitler.
Avlon was up against Rep. Nick LaLota (R-NY), who is a supporter of Trump and has endorsed him. As the debate conversation turned to the Israel-Hamas War, Avlon (at around the 34:55 mark) took that as a way in to address LaLota’s support for the ex-president who, according to his former chief-of-staff Gen. John Kelly, praised the Nazi dictator responsible for the Holocaust.
But, you know, while we’re talking about the state of Israel and the purpose for the state of Israel, I couldn’t help but notice that my opponent’s chosen political candidate, the one he enthusiastically endorsed, told his chief-of-staff Gen. John Kelly that he admired Hitler, said “he did a lot of good things.” Said he wanted generals like the ones Hitler had. That seems pretty urgent. That seems pretty relevant to the choices facing our nation and to the judgement my opponent observes. Because that kind of slander and slur to a man responsible for the murder of six millions Jews and hundreds of millions around the world should not enter anywhere near the Oval Office. And that’s from the mouth of his own general and chief-of-staff. That’s about weakness. We need strength to oppose that as a united nation.
Campaign Trail: New poll suggests Democrats could flip 2 Congressional seats on Long Island - ABC 7 10/22/24
LONG ISLAND (WABC) -- Election Day is two weeks away and a Siena poll has found Democrats could flip two seats on Long Island.
The Siena poll revealed that Democratic challenger and former journalist John Avlon, of Sag Harbor, is almost tied with first-term Republican Congressman Nick LaLota, from Amityville, in the 1st Congressional district race.
LaLota has a three-point lead, 47 to 44% over Avlon.
"I just saw this election, especially with the renomination of Donald Trump after January 6th as one of those times where citizens need to step up, roll up their sleeves and get in the arena," Avlon said.
Campaign Trail: LaLota v. Avlon Race Sparks Interest in Coram Civic Association Endorsements - The South Shore Press 10/20/24
“But, also at the same time, Avlon did show up and the people who were there who heard what he had to say despite him being a Democrat and being more aligned with the left he seemed very middle of the road to us,” Nagulla said. “And, a lot of things he was saying resonated with the community based on the issues that the community is facing. So it's not a shock to us that members wanted to support him.”
“In the end, regardless of party, Coram Civic Association took a poll of the community and the majority of the people at the meeting wanted to endorse Avlon, so we did.” Cion said, “That night, he (Avlon) was the only one that actually made a commitment specific to Coram and I think that's what rang the loudest with our members.”
“It's one of those things where we can't continue to neglect a place that needs help so badly. There were many things that Avlon said about the need for public safety and he spoke about government grants - federal government grants - and working hand-in-hand with the local governments to ensure that Coram can get these applications in for grants,” Cion added.
“The vote for Avlon over Lalota was not close, but it was also not landslide territory either. There are always people who vote along party lines no matter what and in that sense Lalota had some support, but while Avalon is running as a Democrat, he presented himself as very moderate and extremely knowledgeable on local issues,” said Nagulla.
Cion Said, “A fresh voice - someone that's taking Coram personally was a very loud statement to the members.
“The Republican Party might not want to hear this but Avlon won over people who are die-hard Republicans. He did not come off as extremely liberal, and that resonated with people. The vote for Avlon was not a vote for the Democrat Party - it was a vote for Avalon himself - the individual,” Nagulla added.
There is little doubt that Avlon spoke to the Civic Association members about on-the-ground retail politics and brought clear action items to the table. It is just as clear that LaLota dropped the ball on an issue key to the Association.
Editorial: Why I will not be voting for Nick LaLota - Smithtown Matters 10/21/24
Nick LaLota cannot vote for himself because he does not live in CD 1. LaLota suggested he would move to the district if he won in 2022. He won and did not move. Living outside the district you are elected to represent is legal, so other than misrepresenting his intention to move, it is not a crime but an untruth. Instead of owning up to the fib, LaLota seeks to tarnish John Avlon by accusing him of living in Manhattan despite his owning a home in Sag Harbor since 2017. Seems a little disingenuous to me.
In 2020, when LaLota was a commissioner at the Suffolk County Board of Elections, he was disqualified from running for a state senate position because of a conflict of interest: “A candidate cannot also serve as a commissioner in charge of counting the votes.” Newsday Aug. 2020. It seems that Commissioner LaLota would have been aware of this conflict.
LaLota on the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v Wade: “ The recent Supreme Court decision to allow states and their voters, not an unelected federal court, to dictate abortion policy is a step in the right direction. The next step is for the New York State Legislature to repeal the extreme provision which allows for third-trimester abortions.” Nowhere does his statement mention a woman, a doctor, or a failing pregnancy. Lalota wants states and voters to be the decision-makers for women. People have abortions for many reasons, but what kind of cynical mind would imagine that a parent who finds out their child is pregnant, a victim of rape, possibly incest, should be reliant on the government to decide the health care or a family facing life and death decisions should be burdened with government overreach?
Campaign Trail: John Avlon gets a 'thank you' from Liz Cheney - Newsday 10/15/24
Centrist Democrat John Avlon’s endorsement by Liz Cheney is unique but not for its aisle-crossing. After all, the former GOP House member from Wyoming and daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney is backing Kamala Harris for president. Avlon is widely viewed as the underdog in the CD1 race and has been making the rounds of civic associations to shore up and develop grassroots support. It was in his recent role as a widely watched CNN commentator that Avlon vigorously spoke up for Cheney. In early 2022, more than a year after the pro-Donald Trump, Jan. 6 siege at the Capitol, he lashed out at her censure by the Trump-controlled Republican Party for doing her job and joining the congressional committee probing the insurrection.
If it’s no mystery that Cheney would now endorse the now-Democratic Sag Harbor resident, it’s just as unsurprising that ex-Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who was the Jan. 6 committee’s only other Republican, is now serving as chairman of the ad hoc "Republicans for John Avlon." Both Kinzinger and Cheney were censured by the dissent-crushing national GOP at the same time.
In a statement released this week, Cheney can be said to have verbally reciprocated for Avlon’s past media support, stating: "John Avlon is a patriot who believes in defending the Constitution and putting country over party. We need smart and serious elected officials, like John, in Congress who will protect our freedom and democracy. He’s a uniter, not a divider, and he will be a strong voice for restoring common sense problem-solving to Congress." She does not mention incumbent Republican Rep. Nick LaLota, who was elected later in 2022 to succeed Rep. Lee Zeldin.
Editorial: All The Hostages Must Be Released - John Avlon, Smithtown Matters 10/7/24
We need to talk about Omer Neutra.
It has been one year since this son of Long Island was taken hostage by Hamas terrorists in the horrific attack one year ago, on October 7th.
The world has witnessed the ever-widening cycle of violence ever since, and we mourn the death of every innocent civilian. But we cannot forget how this conflagration began and we cannot lose the sense of moral clarity that comes with confronting the tyranny of terrorism.
New Yorkers understand from hard experience that we must always stand with the victims of terrorism and not blame the victims of terrorism. As a former journalist and author of a book on extremism, I believe that there is a special responsibility among people who are not Jewish to stand up to antisemitism and stand up for the state of Israel’s right to exist.
Nonetheless, over the past year, there has been an impulse to overlook the hostages in our culture instead of the sustained attention each and every one deserves. But this one hits closer to home.
Omer was born in the wake of 9/11. His mother Orna evacuated Manhattan by foot over the Queensborough bridge months before he was born. Like every child who arrived while Ground Zero was still smoldering, he was a symbol of enduring hope in a civil society where posters of missing persons dotted the cityscape for months.
He grew up in Plainview and excelled at school and sports. He was a happy child and a natural leader. His love of the Knicks in the 2010s helped strengthen his innate optimism and resilience.
After graduating from high school, he took a gap year in Israel, planning to attend Binghamton University. He decided to join the IDF as part of his commitment to public service. He responded to the massive terror attack that began with an assault on young people dancing at an open-air concert. It was an assault that targeted women with sexual violence and left dead children on the dusty ground. We cannot ignore or whitewash those atrocities that left more than 1,200 dead and over 250 individuals held hostage. Omer was among them.
We have seen miraculous rescue missions succeed in liberating hostages being held in Gaza. We have received the heartbreaking news that many more bodies have been recovered. Omer’s whereabouts are still unknown. His parents Ronan and Orna have been tireless in their advocacy for the son, speaking to Democrats and Republicans and President Biden. Their steadfast courage and love in the face of this nightmare should inspire and guide us all.
Soon after I began this campaign in the winter of 2024, I was asked at a debate whether I supported an immediate ceasefire. I immediately and instinctively said, “not unless all the hostages are released.” I still believe that is a necessary precondition for peace.
EDITORIAL: Avlon: A Man for the Moment - The East Hampton Star 9/19/24
It’s been a long, long time since we actually were amped about a candidate for political office, but we are very much amped for John Avlon as a stellar candidate here in the First Congressional District.
Have you seen this guy? Go over to YouTube and have a look at his interview with Marcia Kramer on CBS’s “The Point,” or call up Molly Jong-Fast’s “Fast Politics” podcast episode from Feb. 28.
Our enthusiasm for the former CNN anchor, who lives in Sag Harbor, isn’t just because we’re journalists and he comes to public service from the journalism world. (He was editor in chief of The Daily Beast and co-edited an anthology of great newspaper columns, of all things!) It isn’t even based on the fact that he’s a historian, having written books on both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, and we’re history nerds over here in the Star office.
We believe you — common-sense voters, whether Republican, Democrat, or independent — will choose to vote for Mr. Avlon because he’s very smart, he’s charismatic, yes, but, more to the point, he has spent decades thinking about the best ways to combat political polarization.
OPINION: Avlon looks to swing a victory from the middle in CD1 - Newsday 9/19/24
Now Avlon, who already had been claiming the middle, has announced the formation of a committee called "Republicans for Avlon." He characterized it as a boon to voters "looking for bipartisan, common sense solutions to rebuilding the middle class and the middle of our politics, lowering the cost of living, securing the border and reducing gun violence." Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois is with the group; he broke with the Trump-dominated party and retired last year from the House after playing a prominent role in the legislative investigation of the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the Capitol that targeted House members and Vice President Mike Pence.
The chairman is Mayor Thomas Gardella of the village of Sag Harbor, where Avlon lives. Others include former Staten Island Rep. Susan Molinari; former GOP mayoral nominee and onetime New York City Deputy Mayor Joe Lhota, also alienated from his former party; former Navy Secretary Sean O’Keefe; ex-Massachusetts Gov. William Weld; and former Virginia Rep. Barbara Comstock, who called in 2016 for Trump to quit his race after the Access Hollywood tape was released.
Also for Avlon: Former United States Court of Appeals Judge J. Michael Luttig — a notably conservative jurist who denounced the unconstitutional effort by Trump to reverse the 2020 election results — and Mathew F. Pottinger, a one-time deputy national security adviser in the Trump administration.
This kind of cross-endorsing committee is not typical, at least for the district. The question is just how much of a swing district CD1 will prove to be. The seat has been held by the GOP since Lee Zeldin was elected there 10 years ago.
Campaign Trail: Democrat Avlon Wins Republican Backers in Key Long Island Congress Race - Bloomberg 9/19/24
Former Republican elected officials including ex-Staten Island Congresswoman Susan Molinari crossed party lines to endorse the Democratic challenger to Representative Nick LaLota in a key US House race on eastern Long Island.
Their support potentially boosts former CNN political analyst John Avlon’s appeal to political moderates in his bid to wrest a House seat Democrats see as crucial to winning back the House majority.
Avlon depicted Molinari’s and former Congressman Adam Kinzinger’s cross-over endorsements — among a group of others who include former Massachusetts GOP Governor William Weld — as reflective of his aim to “rebuild the middle of our politics.”
LaLota’s campaign didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Campaign Trail: New York-1: Why is a No Labels Founder Running as a Democrat? Don't Discount John Avlon! - Daily Kos 8/25/24
John Avlon is no dream progressive, and that’s okay with me. For many, he’s a throwback to the 1990s and the Third Way movement in Democratic politics.
[John Avlon] is running in the Democratic primary on June 25, positioning himself as the best hope to flip this district, currently held by a first-term Republican named Nick LaLota. Avlon’s (earnest) pitch is essentially this: After years of our politics being warped by polarization and showboat extremism, it’s time for a return to something like “the third way” of the 1990s, when President Clinton was successfully triangulating (Avlon volunteered for Clinton’s campaign) and the not yet so obviously nuts Mayor Giuliani was “cleaning up” New York (Avlon worked for him as a speechwriter).
In order to recapture the House and win with MVP Harris, we need the broadest coalition possible. We need sane conservatives, Independents, and of course progressives uniting to face the threat that is former President Trump. In fact, Avlon said as much in his campaign launch video.
The best part? The Republicans are clearly scared of Avlon running - so much so that they attacked him right after his campaign launch in late February.
To John Avlon’s knowledge, “the National Republican Congressional Committee didn’t feel compelled to weigh in when any of the other candidates in the Democratic primary got in the race. But they did for me. And I think that’s because they’re scared.”
The race is in New York’s first congressional district, a US House seat represented by a Republican, Nick LaLota, in an area that trended towards Joe Biden in 2020 and is thus one of many Democratic targets in the state this year.
“I think they thought they were going to have a relatively easy race, maybe facing the candidate who had been defeated before. But I think when they saw me getting in the race, they recognised that changes the calculus.”
Campaign Trail: DNC Recap: Day 2; Candidate John Avlon - The Brian Lehrer Show 8/21/24
John Avlon, veteran journalist now the Democratic candidate for congress in New York's 1st district on Long Island, joins Brian briefly to talk about his race against one-term Republican incumbent Nick LaLota.
"There is more that unites us than divides us." @JohnAvlon spoke with #WNYC's @BrianLehrer about the palpable energy and hope at #DNC2024 pic.twitter.com/0xnciNE9Nm
— Team Avlon (@TeamAvlonNY) August 22, 2024
(Listen)
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Full interview with John Avlon | The Point with Marcia Kramer - CBS 8/11/24
OP-ED: Fighting to overcome New York’s fentanyl crisis - John Avlon & Kamal Bherwani, New York Daily News 7/8/24
Imagine if an airliner crashed every day, and no one called for stricter aviation regulations. That is the current state of our fentanyl epidemic in the U.S. We are losing roughly 80,000 Americans annually to this epidemic.
Three minutes is all the time it takes before an opioid overdose starts to cause brain damage. Even if the person is resuscitated, their body may recover, but the brain dies.
One of us knows firsthand just how precious those minutes can be. In May 2021, Ethan Bherwani, Kamal’s son, traveled from Long Island to the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut to celebrate his graduation from college. He was a promising young man — a talented athlete, writer, and musician, with plans to attend law school.
While at the Mohegan Sun, Ethan met a stranger who gave him a substance that contained fentanyl. Ethan didn’t know fentanyl was in that substance. He didn’t overdose; he was poisoned.
Around 2 a.m., Ethan collapsed while at the blackjack table. Security footage shows that Ethan lay on the floor with no help for more than 11 minutes. It remains unclear if naloxone — the nasal spray that reverses opioid overdoses — was available on the premises.
On May 27, 10 days after he collapsed, Ethan was declared brain dead and passed away at the age of 22 at Hartford Hospital, leaving behind devastated parents, siblings, and friends.
Ethan’s death was senseless and preventable. Sadly, many families across our country are grieving loved ones lost to this imported epidemic.
The proliferation of fentanyl has led to one of the worst drug crises in our nation’s history.
In New York, a group of lawmakers and prosecutors are calling on Albany to pass Chelsey’s Law, which would allow defendants to be charged with manslaughter for causing fatal overdoses by selling fentanyl-laced illegal narcotics. Under Gov. Hochul’s leadership, the state Legislature should expeditiously pass this bill along bipartisan lines given the urgency of this threat.
Stronger enforcement is one piece of the puzzle. The single most effective and easiest tool we have to reverse overdoses is naloxone. New York State has secured about $2.6 billion from settlements with the opioid industry to be paid out through 2040. This money is being used to fund substance abuse treatment programs and other public health interventions.
The Empire State must do more to make naloxone widely available. In Maryland, state Sen. William C. Smith heard Ethan’s story, and a bipartisan group of lawmakers unanimously passed — and Gov. Wes Moore signed — legislation placing naloxone in AED boxes across the state. New York should pass similar legislation to make naloxone accessible in public buildings statewide.
Each day, 200 Americans die from this epidemic. These deaths are the result of policy choices.
Three minutes were the difference between life and death for Ethan Bherwani, and countless others like him. It’s time we acted with urgency to spare other families the same heartache.
OP-ED: On the Fourth: Reclaiming the American Flag - John Avlon, East Hampton Star 7/4/24
On this Fourth of July, we need to say clearly that the American flag belongs to us all.
In the past, this would have been self-evident. But there’s been an attempt to hijack the American flag for partisan purposes, to make it seem like the exclusive property of one political party or one person.
Nothing could be further from the truth. The American flag belongs equally to all Americans — Democrats and independents as well as Republicans.
In fact, George Washington warned we should always “guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.” This is founding-era speak for don’t follow the person who tries to divide Americans into warring tribes by pretending that they are more patriotic than their fellow citizens. Real patriotism means focusing on what unites us, not what divides us, as Americans.
On this 248th anniversary of American Independence — four months away from a hugely consequential election — look around you here in Suffolk County, as you attend the parade in Port Jefferson, the fireworks over Bald Hill, or a barbecue at your neighbor’s home — as we celebrate together with friends and family and our neighbors what we in Suffolk County know is this: Patriotism and nationalism are not the same things.
Nationalism can exist in any country, propagated by any tin-pot dictator seeking to coalesce power around national identity. But American patriotism is different from mere nationalism. That’s because the United States was the first nation in the history of the world founded upon an idea rather than a tribal identity.
Nationalism is about blood-and-soil identity politics. It is the opposite of our animating belief that all men and women are created equal.
Democracy depends on an assumption of good will among fellow citizens. And though good will has been tested in our time of hyper-partisanship, on this day above all others, we must remember that there is always more that unites us than divides us as Americans. That’s what the American flag symbolizes.
We are citizens, not subjects — and we have a sacred trust to hand our nation better to the next generation than it was handed to us. The eyes of history are on us to see whether we meet that task on this and every Fourth of July.
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: How John Avlon could help Democrats take control of the House - CBS 6/26/24
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Dem NY-1 Congressional Candidate John Avlon Wants 6 Summer Debates - Patch 6/26/24
Just hours after his Democratic primary night win in the race for New York's 1st Congressional District seat, John Avlon began the day Wednesday by challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Nick LaLota, a Republican, to six debates starting in July.
On Wednesday, Avlon came out swinging against his incumbent opponent: "The voters in New York’s First Congressional District deserve a series of real debates on the issues that affect their lives. They deserve to judge the solutions we put forward and see the difference between Nick Lalota’s extreme MAGA approach to politics and my belief that we can come together and find common-sense solutions to our most pressing problems."
Avlon added: "The contrast is clear in this race: While Nick LaLota wants to cut Social Security, the Affordable Care Act, and Medicare; raise the retirement age; make prescription drugs more expensive, and attack a woman’s right to choose, I will rebuild the middle class, defend a woman’s right to reproductive freedom, and protect and defend our democracy. Six debates would set a great standard because our democracy deserves nothing less."
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: John Avlon rides turnout, 'electability' to Dem primary win, analysts say - Newsday 6/26/24
Former CNN anchor John Avlon won the 1st Congressional District Democratic primary by 40 points on Tuesday, buoyed by higher turnout and after emphasizing that he was more likely to flip the seat than chemist Nancy Goroff, political analysts said Wednesday.
In mailings, commercials and stump speechs, Avlon repeatedly asserted that he was better poised than Goroff to win in a general matchup with freshman Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Amityville).
Avlon, of Sag Harbor, defeated Goroff, of Stony Brook, by a margin of 70%-29% on Tuesday, according to unofficial returns from the Suffolk County Board of Elections.
The turnout was higher than in 2020, when 9% of district Democrats --14,423 of 154,920 voters -- cast ballots during the coronavirus pandemic. Goroff defeated three other candidates in that primary, including Perry Gershon, Democrats' 1st District nominee in 2018.
Christopher Malone, associate provost and a professor of political science at Farmingdale State College, said voters connected with Avlon's message by overwhelming margins.
“He communicated more clearly about his electability: To flip this seat you need someone who is going to win, not someone who is some purist or ideologue," Malone said Wednesday. “That’s precisely what Democrats are looking for. They’re looking for pragmatic electability. In these competitive races, especially on Long Island, that's what voters are looking for. Someone who is going to win."
Michael Dawidziak, a political consultant who works primarily with Republican candidates in Suffolk, agreed.
“What really counted in this race was winnability, who could win in November, I think that’s what the Democrats really cared about," Dawidziak said. “Rightly or wrongly, fairly or unfairly, Goroff has lost one shot at this, and not by a close number, and I think most Democratic voters looked at Avlon as a better candidate for the general election.”
Goroff declined to comment Wednesday, a spokeswoman said.
Avlon said he crisscrossed the district, securing endorsements from members of Democratic committees and clubs including in Southold, Southampton and East Hampton. “I just think that’s essential for building a durable coalition that we got in the race," Avlon said in an interview Wednesday.
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Avlon Decisively Wins Congressional Primary - East End Beacon 6/26/24
Former CNN political analyst John Avlon will be the Democratic candidate in this fall’s race for the East End’s First Congressional District seat, after taking home a decisive 70 percent of the vote in a Democratic primary Tuesday against Nancy Goroff, a chemist and former chair of the chemistry department at Stony Brook University.
The district, which includes all of the five East End Towns along with Huntington, Smithtown and the northern part of Brookhaven, is currently represented in Congress by Republican Representative Nick LaLota, a first-term incumbent from Amityville, just outside the district lines (members of Congress are not required to live in the district they represent).
With a centrist message focusing on keeping Long Island affordable and protecting democracy, Mr. Avlon, a former speechwriter who lives in Sag Harbor, has energized voters throughout the brief campaign with the assertion that CD1 is a swing district, and could be returned to Democrats this year, when party control of Congress is very much in play.
“Because Democrats are the last big tent party that believes in bipartisanship, we need to reach out, with clarity and confidence, and get the real business going of winning this election and winning back Congress,” said Mr. Avlon in his acceptance speech Tuesday night.
“I said that we would build a broad, patriotic coalition to defend American democracy by defeating Donald Trump and by winning back the House,” he added. “We in Suffolk County are lucky to live in a swing district. Most Americans don’t. That’s a problem. That’s what’s lead to all this poisonous hyper-partisanship that has frustrated so many of us. But here, we can do something about it, because winning in a swing district requires the politics of addition, not division.”
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Avlon Beats Goroff in East End Democratic Congressional Primary - Dan’s Papers 6/26/24
Former CNN anchor John Avlon trounced ex-Stony Brook University professor Nancy Goroff in the Democratic primary Tuesday, advancing Avlon’s bid to challenge freshman U.S. Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Rocky Point) in November.
Avlon was leading with 70% of votes cast over Goroff, who had 30%, according to unofficial early returns tallied by the Suffolk County Board of Elections with the majority of precincts reporting after polls closed.
“We’ve proved that the positive defeats the negative,” Avlon told cheering supporters. “We’ve shown that the politics of addition can defeat the politics of division. And that’s going to be the key … to winning in November.”
New York State’s 1st Congressional District represents the entire East End and the North Shore of Suffolk County. The district is considered a swing seat that could prove pivotal as Democrats seek to recapture the majority of the U.S. House of Representatives, which Republicans control by a slim majority. Increased voter turnout as former President Donald Trump, a Republican, seeks a rematch against President Joe Biden, a Democrat, is expected to sway the race.
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Democrats Pick Avlon to Face LaLota - East Hampton Star 6/26/24
John Avlon, who quickly rose to the top in a field of Democratic congressional contenders that numbered half a dozen just a few months ago, is the winner of Tuesday's primary in New York's First Congressional District, besting the second-time candidate Nancy Goroff.
At a primary night party in Riverhead Tuesday, his supporters began celebrating his victory within an hour of the polls closing when The New York Times called the race in his favor. Early unofficial results from the Suffolk County Board of Elections, before all election districts had reported totals, put Mr. Avlon comfortably ahead, with more than 70 percent of the vote.
He congratulated Ms. Goroff on running a "hard fought race," and told his supporters that "We in Suffolk County are lucky to live in a swing district. Most Americans don’t . . . That's what's led to this poisonous hyper-partisanship that frustrates so many of us. But here we can do something about it. We can be the change we want to see."
By 10:30, Mr. Avlon was on the outside deck of the restaurant, the party was clearing out, and he was taking a congratulatory call from Gov. Kathy Hochul.
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Avlon Defeats Goroff in 1st District; Will Take On LaLota - Huntington Now 6/26/24
John Avlon easily won the Democratic primary night, defeating Nancy Goroff for the chance to go up against US Rep. Nick LaLota in the 1st congressional district.
As of 10 p.m., he had more than 70 percent of the vote.
“I would like to congratulate John Avlon for winning the Democratic primary in New York’s 1st Congressional District,” Goroff said. “It is imperative that all Democrats now come together to defeat Nick LaLota and flip this seat in November. John has built a broad coalition of elected officials, community leaders, and unions. He will be a commonsense voice for the people of Suffolk in Washington and a vast improvement over LaLota who has proven to be far too extreme for this district. The people of Suffolk deserve a representative who will work hard and find solutions to the major problems facing our community, and that is John Avlon.”
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Nancy’s Problem - Southampton Press 6/3/24
We must also remember that primaries are about selecting the candidate who can win in November. Here, one contender, Nancy Goroff, has already lost before as “Dr. Radical” linked to the “de-fund the police” movement.
The other contender, centrist John Avlon, is a respected historian, author, journalist and TV commentator with great presentation and heart. There’s really no contest.
We can see that Nancy Goroff knows all this. She’s getting desperate, going negative in her ads, trying to buy the race with lavish spending. It’s not working, though. The Democratic committees of all five East End towns plus Huntington have endorsed John Avlon in this primary. No committees have endorsed Goroff.
In addition, Avlon has the backing of Congressmen Dan Goldman, Greg Meeks and Tom Suozzi, and New York State Democratic Chair Jay Jacobs. These experienced observers recognize Avlon’s advantage in knowledge, personality and depth, and Goroff’s disadvantage on the important police support issue.
Nancy Goroff has a problem: She’s not electable.
Democrats, it’s of national importance that we flip District 1. Please get out and vote in the June 25 primary for John Avlon.
George Lynch
Lynch is the communications chair for the Southampton Democratic Committee — Ed.
ENDORSEMENT: Avlon best pick for Suffolk Democrats in June 25 primary - Northport Observer 5/31/24
The difference between [John Avlon and Nancy Goroff] in this race is that Mr. Avlon offers Democrats a chance to win and Dr. Goroff does not. That’s a big difference.
The Observer stands with the Huntington Democratic Committee which endorsed Mr. Avlon last month and with Democratic Congressmen Thomas Suozzi, Gregory Meeks, and Dan Goldman, who endorsed Mr. Avlon this week and endorses Mr. Avlon for the Democratic nomination for the First Congressional District.
Mr. Avlon is a moderate who is keenly informed about the full spectrum of American government and politics. If elected to the House of Representatives he will be immediately able to provide us with capable, articulate, and sensible representation in Washington D.C. And, for Democrats he will share their values on a national level ably and with the potential to get things done.
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Ex-CNN anchor John Avlon backed by big-name Dems in LI Congress bid - New York Post 5/29/24
New York’s Democratic House members are taking a rare stand in a competitive primary, endorsing centrist John Avlon… over liberal rival Nancy Goroff in a Long Island race.
Reps. Tom Suozzi, Gregory Meeks and Dan Goldman are getting behind Avlon in the 1st Congressional District, which covers the East End and other parts of Suffolk County.
The trio of Dems believes an Avlon would give Democrats a better chance of flipping the seat — and with it, the House of Representatives.
“I am endorsing John Avlon in congressional District 1 because he is a common sense Democrat who understands that we need to focus on the issues Long Islanders care about. He believes we need to rebuild the middle class, restore the state and local tax deduction, solve the border crisis, protect reproductive health care rights and heal the divides in our country,” Suozzi said Wednesday.
“John Avlon is the best choice for Democrats in the upcoming primary because like me, he will work with anyone to get things done on behalf of the people he serves.”
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Avlon Opens Office in East Northport- Huntington Now 5/19/24
John Avlon, a Democratic candidate running in the 1st congressional district against incumbent Nick LaLota, opened a campaign office Sunday in East Northport.
He greeted supporters upon his arrival at the office at 2090 East Jericho Turnpike and talked about issues with a variety of residents who crowded the office.
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Councilman Tommy John Schiavoni, Teachers Union Both Endorse Avlon - Southampton Press 5/14/24
Southampton Town Councilman and candidate for New York State Assembly Tommy John Schiavoni has endorsed John Avlon, a Democratic candidate for New York’s 1st Congressional District.
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Avlon Opening Office - Huntington Now 5/14/24
Democratic congressional candidate John Avlon will open a campaign office Sunday in East Northport.
The former CNN figure, who hopes to unseat Republican US Rep. Nick LaLota in the 1st District, will open the office at 2090 East Jericho Turnpike. The grand opening is set to run from 2-4 p.m.elected.
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: The Nice Guy—Can former CNN pundit John Avlon flip a Long Island congressional seat blue with his West Wing throwback politics? - New York Magazine 4/30/24
[John Avlon] is running in the Democratic primary on June 25, positioning himself as the best hope to flip this district, currently held by a first-term Republican named Nick LaLota. Avlon’s (earnest) pitch is essentially this: After years of our politics being warped by polarization and showboat extremism, it’s time for a return to something like “the third way” of the 1990s, when President Clinton was successfully triangulating (Avlon volunteered for Clinton’s campaign) and the not yet so obviously nuts Mayor Giuliani was “cleaning up” New York (Avlon worked for him as a speechwriter).
After doing my own homework, I grilled Avlon about how much he knew about his own district: shoreline-preservation bills, farmer aid, ferry transit lines, and even the Shinnecock Indian Nation and Montaukett Tribe. He passed my pop quiz easily, then brought it back to what he said he will campaign on: “The No. 1 issue is affordability. There’s Donald Trump, defense of democracy, and there’s affordability and abortion.” It’s not exactly as stirring as the Four Freedoms, but it might just get him elected.
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Election 2024: Huntington Democrats Back Avlon; Santos Drops Out - Huntington Now 4/23/24
Huntington Democrats have endorsed John Avlon as their candidate to go up against US Rep. Nick LaLota in the 1st Congressional District.
Huntington Town Democratic Committee Vice Chair Jill Kaufman said: “We’re backing John because he’s the best candidate to take this seat back and help create a Democratic majority. The stakes in this election are too high, and by getting behind a Democrat like John, we are putting ourselves in the best position to win in the fall and then deliver on our Democratic priorities.”
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: John Avlon Raises $1.1 Million For Race Against Nancy Goroff - WLIW 4/17/24
Former CNN analyst John Avlon jumped ahead of former professor Nancy Goroff with a $1.1 million haul in the money race for the Democratic nomination to face Republican Rep. Nick LaLota in the 1st Congressional District, new federal campaign finance filings show.
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: John Avlon outraises Nancy Goroff in CD1 - Newsday 4/16/24
In Federal Election Commission filings disclosed Monday, Avlon posted a strong fund-raising total compared with his Democratic rival Nancy Goroff, leaving him with almost twice the amount of cash as Goroff for the rest of the race.
“To raise over a million dollars in the first 40 days of the campaign is a measure of the excitement we’ve unleashed,” said Avlon, in a statement. "Democrats understand that we can’t afford to lose this fight.”
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Avlon Draws More Support - The East Hampton Star 4/11/23
In his bid for the Democratic nomination for New York’s First Congressional District, John Avlon of Sag Harbor this week picked up the endorsement of the New York State Democratic Committee chairman, Jay Jacobs, and of all five members of the East Hampton Town Board.
The town board members — Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez, Councilwoman Cate Rogers, and Councilmen David Lys, Ian Calder-Piedmonte, and Tom Flight — announced their endorsement in a joint statement on Monday. “We need his strong working knowledge of local issues and we need his ability to work across party lines to get things done,” the statement read. “That’s because John embodies what each of us wants in our elected officials — he’s thoughtful, he’s open-minded, he’s empathetic, and he is a strong communicator.”
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: John Avlon: Bridging Divides to Shape a United Future for NY’s First - The National Herald 4/5/24
In a passionate appeal to the Greek-American community and broader electorate of New York’s First Congressional District, John Avlon presents his candidacy as a pivotal move to safeguard democracy and address the pressing challenges facing his constituents. Avlon, a native New Yorker and proud grandson of Greek immigrants, brings a rich blend of experience and a profound sense of duty to his congressional run. Drawing inspiration from his family’s journey to America, he embodies a deep-seated appreciation for the nation’s democratic values and the imperative of civic engagement.
Avlon’s background as a presidential historian, author, and seasoned commentator has fortified his resolve to combat the extreme polarization and “unhinged extremism” corroding American politics. His tenure on platforms such as CNN and appearances on shows like “Real Time with Bill Maher” and “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” have showcased his commitment to fostering reasoned discourse and highlighting the importance of unity in times of division. Through his work, Avlon has consistently championed the search for common ground and pragmatic solutions to national issues, a stance that resonates deeply with voters seeking a reprieve from the current political tumult.
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Letter From Sag Harbor: Can John Avlon Ride His Centrism From CNN to Congress? - Vanity Fair 4/1/24
John Avlon had just returned from a campaign event at the other end of Long Island when he greeted me at the door of his Sag Harbor home on a recent Friday afternoon. It’s in a semi-secluded enclave that’s like a combination of a woodsy suburb and a New England fishing village, with a smattering of modern fancy homes because, well, obviously. Avlon’s place is not one of these, but a modest domicile that looks like it could belong to a nice elderly couple. (In fact it did previously belong to a nice elderly couple, God rest their souls.)
Sag Harbor is part of New York’s First Congressional District, which stretches all the way from Huntington to Montauk, with a wide array of constituents who range from the ultra-wealthy to the working class. On February 21, Avlon announced he had entered the race to flip the district’s Republican-held swing seat, which explained his resignation a couple weeks earlier from CNN, where he’d been an anchor and political analyst for years.
INTERVIEW: PIX11 NEWS 3/31/24
INTERVIEW: CNN Newsroom 3/30/24
INTERVIEW: Dan’s Talks with Dan Rattiner 3/26/24
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Avlon Says the District Is Winnable - The East Hampton Star 3/21/24
Three weeks after announcing his candidacy to represent New York’s First Congressional District, the author, columnist, and former CNN anchor John Avlon formally launched his campaign at the World War II memorial in Sag Harbor’s Marine Park on Saturday, promising supporters that the race to unseat Representative Nick LaLota is winnable.
Since announcing his candidacy, Mr. Avlon has shaken up the Democratic Party primary campaign. Two candidates seeking the party’s nomination quickly withdrew from the race, and several Democratic officials and organizations have thrown their support to Mr. Avlon, including the East Hampton and Southampton Town Democratic Committees.
INTERVIEW: "I felt that there is a real chance to flip a seat from a first term Republican." - The Hollywood Reporter 3/14/24
Why did you make the decision to leave journalism and run for office?
I didn’t want to look at my kids and tell them I could’ve done more when it mattered most. I’m the grandson of immigrants. I’m a patriotic guy and I’m deeply concerned about the stakes of this race for our country and my community. We’ve never had a presidential nominee of a major party run on an authoritarian platform praising dictators. I didn’t feel that simply offering opinions on cable news was enough. I love my job and my colleagues at CNN, and they are doing important work, but I felt that there is a real chance to flip a seat from a first term Republican, sort of Trump hugger/Trump flunkey, who is far too right for the district. But that requires a candidacy that can excite people and a candidate who can not only inspire the base but win over independent voters and anti-Trump Republicans and I looked at it and said “maybe that’s something I can do that’s different from many of my colleagues.”
INTERVIEW: News 12 Long Island Politics & Power 3/10/24
EDITORIAL: Democrats should rally behind Avlon candidacy - The Smithtown News 3/7/24
Some formidable Democrats were interested in the challenge, but in a county now dominated by Republicans, it had begun to appear that Republican Rep. LaLota was invincible on the path to re-election to a second term. That all changed when John Avlon announced his candidacy last week.
A sign that Mr. Avlon is a game changer in the race came last week when James Gaughran, a former state senator, county legislator and town councilman, withdrew from the primary for the Democratic nomination and endorsed Mr. Avlon. There were few people in Suffolk County better able to gauge the political landscape than Mr. Gaughran, who has been a Democratic campaign worker for most of the last six decades—a long time.
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Run, John, Run - The Easthampton Star 3/7/24
The Times hasn’t mentioned it much. They’ve been too busy telling us Biden’s too old while Trump’s as vigorous as he is inevitable. So it should be said here that John Avlon’s entry into politics is a rare boon, an unexpected boost, more than encouraging.
INTERVIEW: Morning Joe 3/6/24
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: John Avlon Targets New York Republicans in US House Campaign: ‘They’re Scared’ - The Guardian 2/25/24
To John Avlon’s knowledge, “the National Republican Congressional Committee didn’t feel compelled to weigh in when any of the other candidates in the Democratic primary got in the race. But they did for me. And I think that’s because they’re scared.” (read more)
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: A news anchor runs for Congress - Politico New York Playbook PM 2/21/24
Fresh off his job as a CNN journalist, John Avlon is hoping to bring star power to the sleepy 1st Congressional District primary on the east end of Long Island — a swing seat now held by first-term Republican Rep. Nick LaLota.
“This fight is too important for Democrats to lose,” Avlon said in an interview with Playbook Wednesday, after launching his campaign. “This seat is winnable, with the right kind of candidate, who can bring energy and inspire the base and also reach out and win over independent voters, as Tom Suozzi did in his special.”
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Former CNN anchor John Avlon announces run for Congress as a Democrat - Axios 2/21/24
Driving the news: "Right now, our democracy's in danger," Avlon said in a video posted to social media Wednesday morning.
"This election is not a drill. It's up to all of us to step up and get off the sidelines," he added.
Avlon took aim at former President Trump, as well as "his MAGA minions, who don't even seem interested in solving problems anymore."
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: John Avlon, Former CNN Anchor, Announces Congressional Campaign - The East Hampton Star 2/21/24
In announcing his candidacy, Mr. Avlon took aim at Donald Trump, the presumed Republican nominee for president, who is seeking his second presidency in his third presidential campaign, this time while facing charges in four ongoing criminal cases. "I believe the United States is the greatest democracy the world has ever known," Mr. Avlon said in a video statement.
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Former CNN Anchor John Avlon announces Bid for Congress - The Hill 2/21/24
“We need to build the broadest possible coalition to defeat Donald Trump, defend our democracy and win back the House from his MAGA minions who don’t even seem interested in solving problems anymore,” [John Avlon] added.
Avlon also vowed to focus on rebuilding the middle class, investing in infrastructure, protecting women’s reproductive rights and combatting climate change.
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Former CNN anchor John Avlon launches campaign in New York’s 1st Congressional District - News 12 New York 2/21/24
New candidate John Avlon has officially announced his bid for the Democratic primary in New York’s 1st Congressional District.
The former CNN anchor made his announcement on social media. In the video, he says he wants to flip the seat on the East End.
The Sag Harbor resident says as a member of Congress he would focus on strengthening Long Island's middle class, invest in local infrastructure and protect women's reproductive rights.
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Former CNN Commentator John Avlon Running for New York Congressional Seat - Spectrum News 1 2/21/24
Avlon on Wednesday launched his bid to represent New York 1st Congressional District, where he will be among several Democrats seeking to unseat Republican incumbent Nick LaLota.
Among the issues Avlon said he would try to address in Congress are rebuilding the middle class, investing in infrastructure, protecting women’s reproductive freedoms and combatting climate change.
COLUMN: It’s Precisely the Wrong Time to Tune Out the News and Politics - CNN 2/8/24
Rather than turning away from civic engagement, now is the time to lean in. This isn’t an election like any other. Democracies depend on active citizens engaging in political debates in good faith. They depend on elevating facts over hyper-partisan fiction. They depend on citizens getting in the arena, rather than retreating from it, especially during hard times.
We need to combat this growing sense of apathy. We meet the challenges of our time with confidence.
COLUMN: Are You Better Off Than You Were Three Years Ago? - CNN 1/5/24
The US unemployment rate has been below 4% for two years — that’s the first time it’s happened since the 1960s. Black and Hispanic unemployment rates have seen historic lows. Hourly wage growth outpaced inflation last year, and union workers saw major raises.
INTERVIEW: Real Time With Bill Maher Overtime 12/8/23
COLUMN: Why Speaker Johnson Says America is not a Democracy - CNN 10/31/23
It might surprise you to learn that the new speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, has said, ”we don’t live in a democracy.”
COLUMN: Why a Third-Party 2024 Presidential Ticket Is a Dangerous Gamble - CNN 7/21/23
The Electoral College mathematics of presidential elections suggest that a key way a figure like Trump — who remains deeply unpopular with the American people at large — could be reelected is if a third-party candidate plays spoiler. Even Republican senators are now warning that a No Labels ticket led by Manchin would hurt Biden and help Trump. That is an extraordinarily reckless risk at this particular time in our history."
INTERVIEW: Lincoln and the Fight for Peace – JFK Library 5/25/23
VIDEO: Baptist Leader Speaks Out: 'Christian nationalism is not Christianity' - CNN 9/7/22
VIDEO: The Surprising History of Gun Laws in America - CNN 6/3/22
INTERVIEW: Lincoln and the Fight for Peace – The Late Show With Colbert 2/22/22
VIDEO: Americans Are Not As Divided As They’re Told- CNN 9/13/21
VIDEO: Obamacare Has Survived Over 2,000 Attempts To Kill It - CNN 6/18/21
ESSAY: The Unum Test - 4/13/21
To emerge stronger and wiser from this severe civic stress test, we need to put country over party. We need to address the deeper causes of our divisions while developing a unifying vision that can guide policy debates going forward.
We call it the Unum Test. Here’s how it works: put partisan blinders aside and ask yourself which policies would have the long-term effect of uniting—or further dividing—our country. The policies that pass the test won’t all come from one party or ideology. That’s precisely why it offers an off-ramp from our bitter polarized debates. The Unum Test can reunite our nation because it is rooted in principle and practicality, not partisan agendas, allowing us to make progress towards a more fair, just and prosperous nation.
INTERVIEW: We Have to Un-f**k America – Real Time With Bill Maher 4/16/19
ESSAY: The Resilient City: New York After 9/11 - 9/11/02
Three hundred and forty-one New York City firefighters. Twenty-three New York City police officers. Thirty-seven Port Authority police officers. Three court officers. Two EMS workers. Thousands of innocent civilians. Numbers alone, of course, cannot do them justice.